We know the Tower of Babel as a strange and somewhat absurd attempt of mankind to trespass into the realm of heaven. It was just that, but not in the way you might expect. They were not intruding into heaven, as if to enter heaven by means of a tower. They were intruding into the realm of God, by establishing a new religion. Nimrod started the first humanly originated religion. He did so to give mankind a different option. He intended that humans worship something other than the Sovereign Lord of the universe.

The Bible teaches that all human religion started at Babel. That is why Babel will be destroyed in the future as recorded in the Book of Revelation. First the Lord destroys “religious Babel” (Rev. 17) then “economic Babel” ( Rev. 18). The are simply two streams of religious consciousness that find their roots in the original tower. It matters little, whether one worships with strong “spiritual” trappings, or whether one worships at the altar of materialism and money. The system established by Nimrod gave mankind something to believe in and it gave them a sense of security. They were going to make a name for themselves. They were going to be secure and famous.

In Revelation, Babel is contrasted with the New Jerusalem. It is the “city of man” contrasted with the city of God”. It is the whore instead of the Bride. Christ is preparing for us a city of much greater beauty. His city (New Jerusalem) is hundreds of miles taller that the Tower of Babel. It is noteworthy, the first city built after the fall was a city built by Cain. Then the first city built after the flood was built by Nimrod. When Nimrod began building the tower of Babel, it’s evil intent was so significant that the Lord stepped into history and crushed the rebellion. He did so before it could run it’s full course and merit another complete destruction, similar to the flood.

What was the Big Lie?

Rather than tell his followers that there is no god, Nimrod provided substitute gods for the people. They would be occupied with worshiping one of many gods and forget to think about the ultimate reality of a universal, sovereign God. All of the early great civilizations: Sumer, Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, Canaan, later on Greece, etc all worshiped the same gods. They had different names but they were, in fact, the same deities. How could they all have the same gods? They simply brought with them the gods they knew at the tower of Babel. They would be given different names, but they were the same gods they worshiped at Babel.

Babel, Evolution and Darwinism

What Nimrod established at Babel was a “bait and switch” answer to origins. Where did everything come from. Instead of explaining where the universe came from, he taught that the gods came out of the primordial ooze. They were all gods of nature. They came out of the soup. We learn such details from The Epic of Gilgamish and “Enuma Elish”, early Babylonian stories. It was like telling a child who asked “where did I come from”, “we found you in the pumpkin patch”. It satisfies their curiosity and causes them to forget the obvious question: “and where did the pumpkin come from?”. Notice how similar it is to modern evolution. The first animals crawled onto land and evolved into higher land animals, then up the chain all the way to monkeys and then to mankind walking upright. The one question they cannot answer at all is “where did the ooze come from?”. Whatever cheap answer they give, the question remains, “where did that come from?”. Any thinking person should ask: “where did the “Big Bang” come from. And where did the small molecule that exploded into everything come from. And where did the space come from which housed the big bang. There is no answer. Seldom are these questions asked because the conscience is mollified with false temporary answers.

So really, modern evolution is simply a restatement of an old lie, the same old lie. You were not created directly by the Ultimate Sovereign God. There is no ultimate Being. You are not accountable because you are the product a watery ooze rather than a sovereign God. Evolution, just like all false religions find their roots in the Tower of Babel.

It is wonderful to know that we as Believers have the Old, Old Story of Jesus and His love rather than an old, old lie going back to Babel.

On Thursday, Leon Penetta signed an order at the Pentagon to allow women to serve in ground combat units for the first time in U.S. military history, a goal that aides say he was determined to accomplish before stepping down as secretary of Defense. His decision was publically praised by President Obama.

“Today, every American can be proud that our military will grow even stronger with our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters playing a greater role in protecting this country we love,” President Obama

Those in the military beg to differ, but that is not even the point. Even if women were as physically as strong as men and could perform with equal valor and distinction, it does not mean that they should.

It is already known that units with women are not as strong. Beyond such foolishness, how does it impact the marriages of the soldiers who are asked to be away from their spouses for months at a time? No spouse can be thrilled to know that their loved one is living, around the clock and possibly dying with people of the opposite sex.

By putting American women into frontline combat on the ground, the Obama administration will put all women in the world into the crosshairs of ground combat. To satisfy liberal orthodoxy, the gender-neutral fools of the Democrat Party will have rendered uncountable millions of vulnerable sisters around the world as helpless targets. Not inconsequentially, their American sisters will go in harm’s way as well. John Piper says it well:

If I were the last man on the planet to think so, I would want the honor of saying no woman should go before me into combat to defend my country. A man who endorses women in combat is not pro-woman; he’s a wimp. He should be ashamed. For most of history, in most cultures, he would have been utterly scorned as a coward to promote such an idea. Part of the meaning of manhood as God created us is the sense of responsibility for the safety and welfare of our women.

In 1852 the troopship HMS Birkenhead sank off the coast of South Africa. It spawned the phrase “women and children first.” Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Seton, ordered his men to help get the women and children on board the three lifeboats as the Birkenhead began sinking in shark-infested waters. Not a single woman or child lost their life, thanks to the soldiers who stoically stood on deck as the ship went down. Our president shows that he understands the phrase “women and children first” somewhat differently. His view, let them die first. It is morally repugnant. (various sources)

The Scriptures claim that God raises and lowers nations. He does so for many reasons: their treatment of the poor, weak, and the innocent. Many examples exist: Edom, Babylonia, Assyria, Egypt to name a few.

He is sovereign over nations,

He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, Acts 17:26

He also blesses nations based upon their treatment of Israel.

“I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you and in you all the nations of the earth will be blessed” (Gen. 12:3).

“…for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye…” Zechariah 2:9

This does not mean that God punishes individuals for how nations relate to Israel. PLEASE don’t hear that in what is being said. People who lost loved ones were not singled out by God. THEY EXPERIENCED NATURAL DISASTERS. But God is still in control over natural disasters. Nature has been subject to futility and is waiting for deliverance from the Lord too (Rom. 8:19-22). What we see is that God uses restraining grace over the forces of nature partly to reveal Himself to mankind. Paul tells us one of the reasons why:

“so that they should seek the Lord,” Acts 17:27

Natural disasters are part of how God raises and lowers nations so that people would look to Him.

Especially, as it relates to Israel, God speaks to nations. Our nation in particular, has been moving away from supporting Israel. Even the most liberal Jewish voters are starting to see the truth in it all. We are constantly trying to force Israel into giving away land for peace. Recently, our president was very discourteous to Netanyahu, demanding that Israel return to the 1967 boarders. “Bibi” returned to America and in a “face to face meeting with our president explained why it simply was not going to happen”. I immediately spoke to those around me to watch out for more natural disasters. In less than 2 days Joplin was in ruins. I am not a prophet. I simply believe Scripture. Could there be any connection between natural disasters in the USA and its treatment of God’s chosen people? Does the evidence lean in that direction?

So here are some examples:

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there have been 10 major disasters in the United States this year. On average, usually there are only about 3 major disasters a year. At this point, disasters are happening inside the United States so frequently that there seems to be no gap between them. We just seem to go from one major disaster to the next. Last year, FEMA declared an all-time record of 81 disasters inside the United States. This year, we are on pace for well over 100. (from the Guardian UK).

Major “Acts Of God” That Coincided With The Timing of US Pressure On Israel To Give Up Land

October 30, 1991: President George Bush opens the Madrid Conference with an initiative for a Middle East peace plan involving Israel’s land.

On the same day, an extremely rare storm forms off the coast of Nova Scotia. (It was eventually tagged “The Perfect Storm,” and a book and movie were made about it.)

Record-setting 100-foot waves form at sea and pound the New England Coast, even causing heavy damage to President Bush’s home in Kennebunkport, Maine.

August 23, 1992: The Madrid Conference moves to Washington D.C. and the peace talks resume, lasting four days. On that same day, Hurricane Andrew — the worst natural disaster ever to hit America — produces an estimated $30 billion in damage and leaves 180,000 homeless in Florida.

January 16, 1994: President Clinton meets with Syria’s President Hafez el-Assad in Geneva. They talk about a peace agreement with Israel that includes giving up the Golan Heights.

This quake, centered in Northridge, is the second most destructive natural disaster to hit the United States, behind Hurricane Andrew.

March 1 to April 1997: The combination of PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat touring America, and Clinton rebuking Israel for not giving away her land for peace, coincide with some of the worst tornadoes and flooding in US history.

On the very day Arafat lands in America, powerful tornadoes devastate huge sections of the nation, ripping across Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Arafat’s American tour also coincides with the storms in the Dakotas, which result in the worst flooding of this century, in addition to weeks of major storms throughout the Midwest.

September 27-28, 1998: Clinton meets with Arafat and Netanyahu at the White House to finalize the land deal in which Israel will give up 13 percent of Yesha. . Later, Arafat addresses the United Nations about declaring an independent Palestinian state by May 1999, while Hurricane Georges 110 mph winds and gusts up to 175. pounds the Gulf Coast causing $1 billion in damage.

At the exact time Arafat departs the US the storm begins to dissipate.

October 15-22, 1998: On October 15, 1998, Yasser Arafat and Benjamin Netanyahu meet in Maryland, to continue the talks begun in September.

The talks are scheduled to last five days with the focus on Israel giving up 13 percent of Yesha (Judah and Samaria). The talks are extended and conclude on October 23.

On October 17, awesome rains and tornadoes hit southern Texas. The San Antonio area is deluged with 20 inches of rain in one day. The rains and floods in Texas continue until October 22 and then subside.

The floods ravage 25 percent of Texas and leave over one billion dollars in damage. On October 21, Clinton declares this section of Texas a major disaster area.

May 3, 1999: This is the same day in Israel that Yasser Arafat is scheduled to declare a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital.

The declaration is postponed to December 1999 at the request of President Clinton, whose letter to Arafat encourages him for his “aspirations for his own land.” He also writes that the Palestinians have a right to “determine their own future on their own land,” and that they deserve to “live free, today, tomorrow and forever.”

That same day, starting at 4:47 pm CDT, the most powerful tornado storm system ever to hit the United States sweeps across Oklahoma and Kansas. The winds are clocked at 316 mph the fastest wind speed ever recorded.

August 29, 2005: Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon completed the forcible eviction of Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip. President Bush supported Sharon’s evacuation from Gaza. He said: “I strongly support his courageous initiative to disengage from Gaza and part of the West Bank,” Exactly one week later, hurricane Katrina struck the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. 80% of the entire city of New Orleans was left under water. Many weather experts called this the worse hurricane and natural disaster that has ever hit the country.

May 20, 2011, (Friday) President Obama demands that Israel return to 1967 boarders, The Joplin tornadoes strike by Sunday, May 22.

By Tuesday, the death toll in Joplin had reached 124, making it the single deadliest tornado since the National Weather Service began keeping such records 61 years ago.

The tornado in Joplin brought the number of people who have died in U.S. tornadoes to 489 so far this year. The figure could escalate as rescue workers continue digging through rubble from Sunday’s tornado in Joplin, Missouri.

The deadliest tornado year on record is 1925, which had 794 deaths, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The number of fatalities so far this year is more than 8 1/2 times the average number for an entire year — 56, according to CNN meteorologist Chad Myers.

Rob Bell has published his latest book and it is a big deal. It will shake up or destroy the faith of many, especially disaffected evangelicals who struggle with conservative doctrinal positions and dogmatism. Sadly it will also soothe the conscience of some who are thinking about their eternal destiny.

Bell’s book “Love Wins” seeks to show that the Bible’s message is that God’s love wins. His love trumps all His other attributes. God’s love will keep most of us from going to hell. His love will open the gates for those already there. They may leave “their hell” whenever they choose, after all, the gates of heaven are always open (Rev. 21:25). Also, you can rest easy because hell is really just the misery you have created for yourself in this life. You only go to the hell of your bad choices. In other words, don’t worry, its OK. One wonders if the words of Peter don’t actually apply?

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; 2 Peter 2:1-3

It’s a big deal because Rob Bell is considered a Christian Rock Star. He is extremely popular with younger Christians. Rob’s popularity transcends all denominational boundaries. He fills auditoriums around the country with his talented, provocative, insightful, engaging talks. Rob has done many short films called NOOMA videos which are played in most youth groups around the country. This book will impact many because he is already well known and appreciated.

It’s a big deal because today’s youth is much more influenced by each other than they are by the authorities in their lives. Many of our youth live out a kind of community where they are connected 24/7. They tweet, facebook and text around the clock. Without realizing it, they have followed a kind of FRIENDS mentality, where life consists of me and my friends. As a result, religious views are merely different flavors of ice cream. You may like vanilla. I like chocolate. But we both like ice cream. Churches really aren’t that different. They all have truth. Woe to the Church which says someone else is in error. And if you are from the older generation, you just don’t understand.

It’s a big deal because Rob Bell denies the reality of hell and is deceitful about it. Lisa Miller, religious writer from Newsweek repeatedly asked him if he wasn’t really a “universalist”, someone who believes that in the end everyone will be saved, he said no. So she asked the question a different way. “Do you believe in a real hell?” He said YES. “Hell is all the bad choices you make and the misery you cause yourself”. This same answer he repeated several times. He knew she was asking about a place of fiery torment. He should have been honest and said no, not the kind of hell you are thinking of. Why does he feel the need to be deceptive? No parent would accept such deceptive answers from a teen, why should anyone accept them from a pastor?
It’s a big deal because Rob Bell denies the reality of heaven. He said heaven is not some place to which we go when we die, “some kind of evacuation”. God brings heaven to earth and merges the two. He says we should not be trying to help people get ready for an eternity in heaven, we should be working to bring heaven to earth. God is not concerned about the next life, but about how you live now. Lisa Miller tried again, “So, assuming a person is a believer, where does he or she go when they die?”. Bell says, “I watched a man die recently, and he was saying how wonderful this is. He died in peace. That is heaven!”.

This brings us to a glaring weakness in Bell’s understanding of Scripture. He confuses the Millennial Kingdom promised to the nation of Israel with eternity. He quotes Christ who said, “Thy Kingdom Come”, as proof that heaven is on earth. This kingdom is promised in the Old Testament to Israel. It’s duration is revealed in the New Testament in Revelation 20. Six times God tells us the Kingdom will be 1000 years. Then at the end of the Millennium we receive the most dreadful scene in all Scripture. It pictures an unhappy resurrection, no place to hide, God’s dreadful throne, judgment, death and torment and a lake of fire.

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:11-15

Add to that one overlooked detail, the Devil is tormented eternally in the same location as the lost.

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10

Kind of ruins the whole point of Bell’s book doesn’t it?

It’s a big deal because this is an old heresy revisited. Over 100 years ago liberalism spread throughout most of the denominations in America. Most denominations never recovered. Before communism killed 100 million people in the world, its younger sister socialism was very popular within Christendom. Christian Socialism and the Social Gospel spread through most seminaries and church denominations. It taught the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man, namely that “Christ’s Great kingdom will come to earth, the kingdom of love and light”. This theological liberalism denied the sinfulness of man, the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, the substitutionary atonement of Christ, the inspiration of Scriptures and the bodily return of Christ. Those who hold this view reason that if mankind is not radically sinful, no atonement is needed. Jesus need not be virgin born, and need not be God.

So it looks like Bell is rehashing an old heresy. He said that his views are nothing new. He is on record denying the inspiration of Scripture (Christianity Today, Nov. 2004). He has questioned the virgin birth. He said, “if one day we found that Jesus had a father named Larry, I would still believe.” His supporters protested that he never denied the virgin birth. He was merely speaking hypothetically. Their point is granted, but that misses the point of what he really implied. He was saying that he believes the deity of Christ is not necessary. While being interviewed by Miller, she asked Bell, “why did Jesus die?” Bell answered, “to show us an example of love”. He said nothing more. It is not coincidental that Bell speaks so much about social justice. All one needs to do is to listen to his message on How Jesus Came to Save Sinners. After all, we are already forgiven, we just need to understand forgiveness.

The Fundamentalist movement started 100 years ago to establish what is essential to the Christian faith They listed the Five Fundamentals:

Bell is on record denying at least four and maybe even all five. So it is no surprise that Lisa Miller asked, “Aren’t you really just a main line protestant and not an evangelical?”. Bell’s answer, “No, I am an Evangelical because evangelical means “good news”. But Bell is wrong because the title “evangelical” originally described those who hold to the Fundamentals of the Faith.

It’s a big deal because Rob Bell is deceptive by making assertions in the form of questions. People hear Bell throw out a question and assume that he is simply asking questions. But he is making points, forming opinions and making assumptions through questions. For those who are not inclined to be discerning, questions can be very misleading. For example, the highschool teacher poses the question to his students, “Is America really that great?”. In asking the question, the teacher has really said America isn’t that great and you should think about it. Remember our first mother Eve was led astray through misleading questions.

It’s a big deal because through all this we are defining real love. Bell says having a God who gets everyone saved is a better demonstration of love than having a God who loved so much that He sent His Own Son, to die as a loving atonement. In other words, he thinks universalism is a greater demonstration of love than having Christ die for you. But which is a greater demonstration of love? Letting everyone off the hook or being a God who gives His only son for the redemption of His people? Bell feels that a gospel message which contains both a God of wrath and mercy and a God of justice and love is not acceptable in today’s world. He states, “this kind of gospel is the reason so many reject Christianity”. He wants to change that.

It’s a big deal because one wonders, if perhaps, in the fires of hell there might be a place of unique scorn and hatred labeled “Mars Hell” for those led astray by Bell and his message of “don’t worry, it’s OK.”

A biblical worldview includes the understanding that humans are flawed or rather depraved. Wish all you want but when you give governments power they will abuse it. Here is Bill Whittle from pjtv. He is the best.

There is a street sign in my yard that says “road work ends here”. It is part of the TARP spending projects. The sign across the street proudly brags “this road work is part of ARRA”. Last week, I traveled through the UP and noticed that the signs were up all across the state. The problem is, there was little actual work going on. I think they are there for show, telling people “Hey, we are doing something for you”. I wish they would really do something for me and JUST STOP THE SPENDING. The project ends in my yard, I wish the spending would too.